How to score 90 in PTE?
PTE seems to be very dreadful at the first glance. Considering that its format is quite the opposite of IELTS. In reality, PTE is much easier than IELTS in terms of scoring. Both of them test your English abilities, but PTE has a lenient scoring algorithm. It’s all about knowing the question types, time allocation and the marks distribution to crack this test.
Let’s have a look at the basics!
PTE consists of 4 sections, and 20 question types in total. Each question has dedicated times and marks allocated to it. Not all questions are of the same weightage. Some of the questions are important, while some are of low priority. Here is what your test questions would look like:
Speaking:
Writing:
Reading:
Listening:
Common tips that can be followed for Listening Exercises
It may look complicated at first, but it is comparatively simple once you have understood the algorithm. In PTE, unlike IELTS, from some questions, you can get points in 2 sections. For instance, when you perform Write from Dictation, you get points for Listening as you listen to the sentence, but you get points for Writing as well, as you have to write the sentence that you listen. So please make note of all question types that give you points in two sections.
Next, keep an eye on the timer. This is a time-based test, so make sure you know how much time is allocated for each question type and keep an eye on the timer so that you know that you are on track.
Let’s see section wise how you can improve your skills and hit that 90s mark.
Speaking:
This can be a tricky section. You do not need to speak like a native speaker or have some sort of accent to get full points here. There are three parameters on which speaking is tested, which are Oral Fluency, Pronunciation and Content. Try to maintain moderate speed, speak clearly and focus on what you speak. Clarity is the key, the microphones in the test are extremely sensitive so make sure you don’t shout or speak to softly. Stay calm and consider the time.
Writing:
Both the question types in this section are time based, meaning they have a fixed timer. Summarise Written Text gives you 10 minutes and Write Essay gives you 20 minutes per question. A few tips to get the perfect score here is check your spellings, always proofread your work. Divide your time in such a way that you have at least 2 minutes at the end of each question here to proofread your work. Always keep an eye on the timer, this way you won’t panic, and you will be prepared. Always plan before you start writing, do not start typing straight away.
Reading:
Two of the most important questions here are both Fill in the Blanks questions. These are a little complex. You need to understand the basics of English Grammar and apply it while solving. To improve your basics I Grammar, you can start reading news articles or books or anything that has academic English. Apart from that, time management is another thing that would help you score better, as in the Reading section you get a total timer, and you have to manage your time so that you can solve all the questions.
Listening:
Listening to podcasts or listening to news for improving your listening skills. Watch English series with subtitles for a start, that can help you understand different accents and speeches. Remember, in the test you can get a variety of different accents, so diversify your practice. The most important question type here is Write from Dictation, make sure you keep practicing this question type as much as possible daily and strive perfection in this question.
Even though PTE is not a particularly user-friendly test, considering it is completely computer based, scoring 90s on it is achievable with enough preparation and in-depth knowledge of the PTE algorithm and scoring criteria.
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